Editing Nephrite (section)

==History==
===Neolithic and Chalcolithic Europe===
{{unreferenced section|date=November 2022}}
A lot of nephrite tools and amulets are known since the Early Neolithic (7th millennium BC) to the Late Chalcolithic (5th millennium BC) on the Balkans (mainly Bulgaria; also in Greece, Serbia, Croatia) from two or more unknown sources — Balkan "nephrite culture."<ref name=":0">{{Cite journal |last=Kostov |first=Ruslan I. |date=November 30, 2013 |title=Nephrite-yielding prehistoric cultures and nephrite occurrences in Europe: archaeomineralogical review |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/261795355_Nephrite-yielding_prehistoric_cultures_and_nephrite_occurrences_in_Europe_archaeomineralogical_review |journal=Haemus Journal |volume=2 |pages=11-30 |via=ResearchGate}}</ref> Such tools are found in the Later Neolithic of Poland (from the most probable local source Jordanów), Sardinia (Italy) (unknown source) and Switzerland.<ref name=":0" /> Single or just a few finds of nephrite artifacts are also reported from some other European countries.

===Prehistoric and historic China===
{{unreferenced section|date=November 2022}}
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 | image1 = 'Mutton fat' jade for sale at Khotan Jade Market.jpg
 | caption1 = "Mutton fat" jade for sale at [[Hotan]] Jade Market
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 | caption2 = Large "mutton fat" nephrite jade displayed in [[Hotan Cultural Museum]] lobby.
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During [[Neolithic]] times, the key known sources of nephrite jade in China for utilitarian and ceremonial jade items were the now depleted deposits in the Ningshao area in the [[Yangtze River Delta]] ([[Liangzhu culture]] 3400–2250 BC) and in an area of the [[Liaoning province]] in [[Inner Mongolia]] ([[Hongshan culture]] 4700–2200 BC). Jade was used to create many utilitarian and ceremonial objects, ranging from indoor decorative items to [[jade burial suit]]s. Jade was considered the "imperial gem." From about the earliest [[Chinese dynasties]] until present, the jade deposits in most use were from the region of [[Khotan]] in the Western Chinese province of [[Xinjiang]] (jade deposits from other areas of China, such as [[Lantian County|Lantian]], [[Shaanxi]], were also in great demand). There, white and greenish nephrite jade is found in small quarries and as pebbles and boulders in the rivers flowing from the [[Kuen-Lun mountain range]] northward into the [[Takla-Makan desert]] area. River jade collection was concentrated in the [[Yarkand River|Yarkand]], and the White Jade ([[Yurungkash River|Yurungkash]]) and Black Jade ([[Karakash River|Karakash]]) Rivers in Khotan. From the [[Kingdom of Khotan]], on the southern leg of the [[Silk Road]], yearly tribute payments consisting of the most precious white jade were made to the [[Chinese imperial court]] and there transformed into {{lang|fr|[[objets d'art]]}} by skilled artisans, as jade was considered more valuable than [[gold]] or [[silver]].

===Prehistoric Taiwan and Southeast Asia===
{{See also|Maritime Jade Road|Lingling-o}}
Carved nephrite jade was the main commodity trade during the historical [[Maritime Jade Road]], an extensive trading network connecting multiple areas in Southeast and East Asia. The nephrite jade was mined in east [[Taiwan]] by animist Taiwanese indigenous peoples and processed mostly in the [[Philippines]] by animist indigenous Filipinos. Some were also processed in [[Vietnam]], while the peoples of [[Malaysia]], [[Brunei]], [[Singapore]], [[Thailand]], [[Indonesia]], and [[Cambodia]] also participated in the massive animist-led nephrite jade trading network, where other commodities were also traded. Participants in the network at the time had a majority animist population. The maritime road is one of the most extensive sea-based trade networks of a single geological material in the prehistoric world. It was in existence for at least 3,000 years, where its peak production was from 2000 BCE to 500 CE, older than the Silk Road in mainland Eurasia. It began to wane during its final centuries from 500 CE until 1000 CE. The entire period of the network was a golden age for the diverse animist societies of the region.<ref>Tsang, Cheng-hwa (2000), "Recent advances in the Iron Age archaeology of Taiwan", Bulletin of the Indo-Pacific Prehistory Association, 20: 153–158, doi:10.7152/bippa.v20i0.11751</ref><ref>Turton, M. (2021). Notes from central Taiwan: Our brother to the south. Taiwan’s relations with the Philippines date back millenia, so it’s a mystery that it’s not the jewel in the crown of the New Southbound Policy. Taiwan Times.</ref><ref>Everington, K. (2017). Birthplace of Austronesians is Taiwan, capital was Taitung: Scholar. Taiwan News.</ref><ref>Bellwood, P., H. Hung, H., Lizuka, Y. (2011). Taiwan Jade in the Philippines: 3,000 Years of Trade and Long-distance Interaction. Semantic Scholar.</ref>

===Māori===
[[File:Amphibole 2 - Nephrite Jade Basic calcium magnesium iron silicate Lander County Wyoming 2075.jpg|thumb|upright|Nephrite from [[Wyoming]]]]
Nephrite jade in [[New Zealand]] is known as {{lang|mi|[[pounamu]]}} in the [[Māori language]] and is highly valued, playing an important role in [[Māori people|Māori]] [[Culture of the Māori|culture]]. It is considered a {{lang|mi|[[taonga]]}}, or treasure, and therefore  protected under the [[Treaty of Waitangi]]. The exploitation of it is restricted to the {{lang|mi|[[Ngāi Tahu]]|italic=no}} ''[[iwi]]'' (tribe)<ref>{{cite web |url=http://ngaitahu.iwi.nz/ngai-tahu/the-settlement/settlement-offer/cultural-redress/ownership-and-control/pounamu/ |title = Pounamu - Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu}}</ref> and it is closely monitored. The [[South Island]] of New Zealand is {{lang|mi|Te Wai Pounamu}} in Māori — 'The [land of] Greenstone Water' — because that is where it occurs.

Weapons and ornaments are made of it; in particular the {{lang|mi|[[mere (weapon)|mere]]}} (short club) and the {{lang|mi|[[hei-tiki]]}} (neck pendant). These are believed to have their own {{lang|mi|[[Mana (Oceanian mythology)|mana]]}} (prestige), are handed down as valuable heirlooms, and often given as gifts to seal important agreements. It has also been used for a range of tools such as [[adze]]s and was used to make nails used in construction, as Māori culture had no metalworking before European contact.

Commonly called "greenstone," jade [[jewellery]] in Māori designs is widely popular with tourists. Stone is often imported from Canada, China and Siberia, and {{lang|mi|Ngāi Tahu|italic=no}} runs a pounamu certification scheme to verify the authenticity of New Zealand stone.